Vending machine



B. LEVE El' AL VENDING MACHINE Dec. 12, 1933.

Filed July 5. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Eff/ua [3e/ve ATTORNEY Dec. l2, 1933.

B. I EvE ET AL 1,938,843 l VENDING MACHINE Filed July 5. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gi F ATTORNEY Dec. 12, 1933. B, LEVE ET AL 1,938,843

VENDING MACHINE Filed July 5. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Dec. 12, 1933. B. LEVE Er AL 1,938,843

VENDING MACHINE Filed July 5. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS ONY Dec. 12, 1933. B LEVE -r AL 1,938,843

VENDING MACHINE Filed July 5. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l F TONEY 1 Patented Dec. 12, '1933 Urine-.l3nt` --s'T'ATEs PA.

VENDING MAoHiNE Bernard Leve and Hyman Leve, New York, N. Y. Application uly.. 5, .1928. SelfiaLNO- `.290,304

v Y z 4 claims. icl. 31a-80) This invention relates to `vending machines and more particularly to machines for vending cigarettes.

One object of the invention is to providea com-f pact mechanism' which may be contained in a small space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. mechanism which will be` ingor operation by use of improper coins. .i

A further object of the invention'is to provide a simple construction whichv will disarranged or out of order.

A still further object of the invention is to not easily become provide a machme from which two or more kinds of goods may be sold, and Awhich may coins of different denominations.

A further, more specific object or nthe invenreceive tion is to provide a plurality of dispensing elements Y y and means for to another.

A still further, more specific object of the invention is to provide a mechanism `which ywill return any coins if themachine is empty of goods. u

`'I'he invention consists of the construction, comautomatically4 changing from one bination and .arrangement of parts as herein il-v lustrated, described and claimed.

In Vthe accompanying hereof is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention, in which drawingssimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts, p in which: Y

Figure 1 is a front elevation lof the machine with the front cover removed showing the goods con; l

taining racks.

Figure 2v is ia verticalsection, partly broken Y away, taken approximately on line`2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the arrows.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the mechanism in non-operated position.

Figure 4 is a vertical ksection broken away, taken approximately on in the direction indicated by the arrows.

operating Figure 5 isa plan view showing the operating;

broken Figure 8 is a vertical fragmentary detail taken approximately on line '7-7 of Figure 1, looking'in by the arrows, and showing.;

the direction indicated drawings, forming part direction indicated by the line 4 4` of Figure `1 looking a the Adispensing-.mean

operated position Figure 9 isa ver ly on line 97,9, of Figurev tionindicated .by

FigurelO is a fragment approximately on line2 Figurenll.` is. a frag si'or the package goods'lny tical section taken approximate- 2. looking i the arrows. l

takenA approximately on line 2-2 of Figure- 12 Vis a broken side elevation vof the goods containing The drawings tairielm te. right packages ccntaini fection,

rack. l

n the direc-` Figure '1.

.handside for selling small several cigarettes. by making the machi However,

ev packageszof cigarettes, conor y in fact, any `commodity readily ble-sold in packages.

Referring to the dr casing generally having- C, a top D, a "curvedre bOtQU? Randa hinged.

innerlwall o'fgthe ,sides C DiSDQsed. wall E n hingeddoor G in Disposed/,Qn Vthe insi place.

which may onwthe rear sideof the curvedfrontV de. of. thezrear `wall B, and

aryvertical section taken Y 2. of Figure 1. n mentary t vertical section ne larger, it may be used to Y awings,..A designates a i .arrear wall B, side walls movablevfront wall E, a door G. Disposedabove attached to the section 19 by a pin 29 and the other end attached to the levers 21 by a pin 30 holds the levers in the normal position shown in Fig. 1, so that the outer ends 34 of the levers 21 engage in slots 31 of the side walls 32 of a frame 33 which is secured to the rear wall B of the casing. A leaf spring 35 is disposed on the rear wall B at 36 and exerts pressure against the rear section 20 of the goods rack 18.

When the last cigarette 25 in the front section 19 is vended, the lug 27 on the follow-weight 26 strikes the levers 21, causing them to rock on their pivots 23 and 24. This disengages the ends 34 of the levers 21 from the slots 31. The goods rack 18, being suspended by the overhanging lip 17 and the supporting member 14, is forced for-V ward by the spring 35 so that 'the bottom end of the rear section 20 occupies the same position as was occupied by the bottom end ofthe front section 19. The frame 33 prevents the goods rack 18 from being forced forward more than is necessary by the spring 35. Thus the sale of cigarettes is not interrupted by reason of the front section 19 becoming empty because the rear `section moves forward` automatically and continues'to deliver the cigarettes when the machine is operated as hereinafter described.

A hook 37 is disposed on thefront face of the follow-weight 26 and when the front section 19 is emptythe hook 37 engages a cross bar 38 on the front face of the section 19 and prevents the weight 26 from further downward movement and consequent clogging of the'operating mechanism. A pair of pins 39 on the front face of the section 19 prevent the levers 21 from being rocked more'than is necessary to disengagethem from the slots 31. A

The container for the package goods is shown on the right hand side of Figure 1 and comprises arrear wall 40 secured to the rear wall B of the casing, a pair of side walls 41 and right'angled flanges 42 on the side walls 41 which iianges do not extend to the top of the container.

Suitable perforations 40a. are provided in the wall 40 so that a moisteningl element may be utilized between the wall 40 and the rear wall of the casing B. The packages V43 are placed in the container formed by the wall 40, the side walls 41 and the flanges 42 and are forced downward by a follow-weight 44. Ay pair of hooks 45 are disposed on the front face of the weight 44 so that when thecontainer is empty the hooks 45 will engage a cross bar 46 on the an'ges 42 and prevent further downward movement of the weight 44. Aflange 47 is provided on the front face of the weight 44 to be used as a handle when it is desired to remove the weight to refill thel container. f y

The entire coin operating mechanism is supported on a table 48, having a vertical supporting member 48a, which table 48 is disposed horizontally of the machine and securedto the side walls C and the rear wall B of the casing A.

Disposed on the table 48, is a supporting frame 491011 which is disposed a pair of guide members 50. A slidable plate 51 is inserted between the guide members 50, and adapted to slide abovethe frame 49, Disposed on the slidable plate 51 is a coin lholder Y52 having Va VVguard 53. Also disposed on the plate 51 isa pull rod 54 which extends through to the outside Yof the machine and is provided with a head. 55.k Y

Disposed on a lvertical lug 56,- on the rea'r end of thepull rod 54, is a pin 57y surrounded bya spring 58v and adapted to work intor a `spring Vso that when the mechanism is operated, the

coin will strike ay cam 61, which is pivoted at 62 to another slidable plate 68, which plate is hereinafter described. A spring 63 and a hook 63a on the plate 51 hold the cam 61 in its normal position.

One end of the cam 61 is provided with a hook 64. On the side of the cam 61 is a point 65 and a pocket 66, which is adapted to engage a lug 67 on the slidable plate 51. A second slidable plate' 68 is disposed between the table 48 and the frame 49 and adapted to slide under the frame 49. Disposed on the slidable plate 68 is a vertical lug 69 adapted to be engaged by the hook 64 when the mechanism is operated.

A vertical transverse flange 70 is disposed on the lower face of the'plate 68 and is provided. with a pair of pins 71 surrounded by springs 72 and adapted to work into spring housings 73 in the frame 49, so that the plate 68 maybe returned into its normal position after operation, as hereinafter described.v

The plate 68`is provided near its rearward end.

ico

with a hinged dispensing Ydoor 74, which is nor- Y mally held closed by a block 75 on the table 48.

A vertical transverse flange 76 on the lower face mit the passage of coins is disposed on the horizontal member 6 to protect the mechanism from i the insertion of any implement or the introduction of any foreign substance for the purpose of tampering or defrauding the machine.

A dispensing opening 85 is provided in thev table 48 immediately in front of the dispensing door 74 and communicates withA a curved delivery'slide 86 which is provided with a pair of guide arms 87,"and delivers the goods through an opening 88, inthe hinged door G of the casing n A tothe purchaser.

A pair of coin chutes 89 are provided on the l inside face of the curved rfront wall E of the casing A and register withv the coin holders 52. Since the mechanisms for vending the one cent Vgoods and the iivevcent goods arethe same, a L.; .l

coin support 90 4is, disposed on .the table 48 on the vone cent side, to make up the difference in 'size between the cent and the ve cent pieces.

` The operation of the mechanism is vas followsz-When a proper coinv is inserted in the coin chute 89 it falls .into the coin holder 52 and comes to rest on the support 90, or if a five cent piece, on the table 48. As the pullrod 54is moved forward, by the pull on the head 55, the

coin holder 52 strikes the cam'f77 and the hook 'I 81 is released from thelug 82 on the frame 49. Atrthe same time, the coin, by means of the cut out portion 60, of the coin holder 52,'strikes the cam 61, swings it on its pivot 62 and causes the hook 64 to engage the lug 69 on the plate 68. As if cam 61 is' moved'byrthe pressure of the coin. the point 65 rides around the lug 67 on thepl'ate 51- andv thelug 67 is engaged by the pocket orV recessV 66.

This holds the hook 64 behindthe lug 69 of `and the lugA 8 2 on cent is used, the cam 61 will not be moved ii.:

enough to permit the point 65 to ride around the lug 67 and lthe pressure of the lug 67V against the outside of the point hook 64 fromthe lug 69. However, if the proper coin is used, the lug 67, beingon the slidable plate 51, draws the cam 61 forward. Since vthe cam 61 is disposed on theplate 68 and the hook 64 is behind the'lug 69, the vplate 68 is also drawn forward.-

As the dispensing door 74 passes the block 75, it opensV by gravity and the cigarettev 25 is dropped through the opening 85 in the table 48 and brought to the purchaser by means ofthe curved slide86, the guides 87 and the opening 88. The cam 77 in conjunction with the hook 81 the frame 49, operates asa lock to prevent `the plate 68 being moved except by movement ofl platef51, thus providing a further safeguard against fraud.

As the plate 68 is drawn forward, the rear part thereof takes the position normally occupied til by the door 74 and and the coin drops through prevents more than one cigarette being delivered. As the plate 68 is brought back to its normal position by the spring 72, the door 74 moves backward` and is closed when it strikes the block 75 on the table 48, and the next succeeding cigarette is dropped into place to be vended.

When the coin in the coin holder 52 passes the end of the cam 61, the pressure is removed an opening 91 in the table 48 into a coin box 92, which is disposed on a retaining shelf 93 secured to the side walls of the casing A.

Since it is necessary to return the coins when the machine is empty, a coin return means is provided, and illustrated in Figures 10 and l1, as follows:

When the front section 19 of the goods rack 18 is empty the rear section 20 .is brought forward aspreviously described. As the last cigarette in the rear section 20 is sold, a projecting lug 95 on a follow-weight 94 in the rear section 20 strikes the rear arm 96 of a lever 97 which 'is pivoted at 98 to the vertical supporting member 48a of the table 48.

The forward arm 99 of the lever 97 is connected at 100 to the horizontal arm 101 of the bell-crank lever, which is pivoted at 102 to the vertical supporting member 48a of the table 48. The vertical arm 103 of the bell-crank lever has a transverse rod 104 disposed at its lower end.V

A coin deflector 105 is hinged at 106 to the lower face of the table 48V and normally hangs out of the path of movement of a coin in dropping through the opening 91 into the coin box 92. However, when the lug 95, which projects past the rear section 20, on the weight 94, strikes the arm 96 of the lever 97 it causes the transverse rod 104 to swing the coin deflector 105 into the path of movement of a coin falling through the opening 91.

An opening 107 is provided in the rear wall of the coin box 92 and the deected coin falls through the opening 107 instead of into the coin box and is returned to the operator by means of the curved delivery slide 86 and the opening 88 in the door G.

The coin operating mechanism for the pack- 1 ages of cigarettes is the same, but due to the difference in size, the dispensing means is different,as follows: Y

'I'he plate 68 is provided with a hinged dis- 65 will disengage' th'e'f pensing door 108, which is normally held closed Ibyy the rear portion of the table 48. Immediately behind the door 108 is a vertical fiange V109 `on the plate 68', 'which ange 109 normally holds a leaf spring 110, which isconnected at 111 to thefrearlwall 40 vof the package container, out of the path of movement of the packages.

As the fiange 10,9 moves forward with the plate 68, the spring 110 is released anda toothed flange 112 onthe spring 110 grips the next succeeding package "43 Vand prevents further travel, while the door 108 falls open and drops the package 43, which is being vended, through the opening 113, of V the `table 48, onto the curved delivery slide 86 and to the vpurchaser through the opening 88 in the door G.

Asme plate` es returns, after the sale, the door 108 isclosed by the rear portion of the table 48;` the ange 109 pressesv the spring 110 backward and the toothed fiange 112 releasesA the next package and position to be vended.

The offset lug 114 is disposed on the face of the weight 44 and adapted to pass around the Iianges 42 of the package container. The lug 114 projects past the side walls 41 of the package container and whenall of the packages are sold,

permits it to fall into a operates a coin return mechanism similar to and in the same manner as the one previously described.

In filling the goods rack 18 with single cigarettes, the front and rear sections 19 and 20 may be filled either from the top or the bottom. In order to prevent the cigarettes from falling out of the sections 19 and 20, when the rack is being replaced, and in order to provide a handle by means of which the rack 18 may be easily replaced, a key 115 is used.

The key 115 has a bent portion 116, which may be used as a handle, a curved top end 117, and a ange 118 at its bottom end. When the sections 19 and 20 have been filled with cigarettes, the curved top end 117 of the key 115 is inserted in an opening'120 of a horizontal ange 119 on the front of section 19.

A second horizontal flange 121 is provided near the bottom of section V19 and has a recess 122, (shown in Figure 1.) The shaft of the key 115 is set into the recess 122 and held in place lby a latch 123, on the flange 121. The flange 118 of the key 115 projects across the bottom of the section 19 and 20 and prevents the cigarettes from falling therefrom. The key 115 is used as a handle to replace the goods rack 18 in the casing A. When the goods rack 18 is in place, the key 115 is turned to one side, so that the flange 118 clears the front section 19. The latch 123 is opened and the key is removed.

Another latch 124 is pivoted at 125 tothe top of the rear section 20 and adapted to engage a projecting lug 126 on the front section 19 so that the two sections will 'maintain their positions with respect to one another.

In filling the container for package goods, the weight 44 is removed from the container by means of the flange or handle 47 and since the flanges 42 do not go all the way to the top of the containerthe packages are inserted in the Letters Patent, is: Y f

l. A vending machine comprising a casing, a plurality of goods containers suspended in the casing and means for shifting the containers comprising a spring, a pair of pivoted arms normally engaging slots in a fixed frame, and a weight to release said arms from said slots.

2. A vending machine comprising a casing, a plurality of goods containers disposed in the casing, a gravity operated door beneath the goods containers and means to successively align the goods containers with the door comprising a spring, a weight disposed in one container and a pair of pivoted arms disposed on the same container, said arms being normally engaged in slots in a lfixed frame and said Weight being adapted to release said arms' from saidV slots.

isclaimed as new and desired to'be securedby 3. A vending machine comprising a casing, plurality of goods containers suspended in the casing and means for shifting the containers comprising a spring, a pair of pivoted arms normally engaging slots in a xed frame, and means to release said arms from said slots.

4. In a vending machine, in combination with a removable goods container having an open bottom, a key to maintain the goods in position While the container is being replaced, comprising a vertical rod adapted to be removably attached to the container, a portion of said rod extending outwardly to serve as a handle and a horizontal extension carried by the rod and adapted to lie across the bottom of the container to prevent the goods from falling therefrom.

. y BERNARD LEVE.

HYMAN LEVE. 

